Circuit board manufacturing apparatus with protection function for supervising/adjusting mode and method of operating the apparatus

1. A method of operating a circuit board manufacturing apparatus including a computer for controlling the apparatus and having a job mode in which a general operator who is given an authority relating to the operation of the apparatus is allowed to manipulate the computer and a supervising/adjusting mode in which the general operator is not authorized to manipulate the computer, but a specified user is authorized to manipulate the computer, the method comprising: automatically logging off the computer immediately if the manufacturing operation for circuit boards according to a prior instruction has been terminated when a predetermined time period exists with the computer being not manipulated in the supervising/adjusting mode, and automatically logging off the computer after the termination of the manufacturing operation if the manufacturing operation has been continued when the predetermined time period expires with the computer being not manipulated in the supervising/adjusting mode, whereby the general operator is prevented from manipulating the computer in the supervising/adjusting mode; wherein the circuit board manufacturing apparatus includes a display device having a function to operate as a part of an input/output device and wherein the automatic logoff is effective only on a display screen displayed on the display device in the supervising/adjusting mode, but is not effective in other modes.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatic logoff is executed in the case that the screen on which the last manipulation was carried out is an input screen for supervising and adjusting the circuit board manufacturing apparatus, but is not executed in the case that the screen on which the last manipulation was carried out is a screen for inputting commands relating to the operation of the circuit board manufacturing apparatus.

3. A method of controlling a computer system which includes a plurality of computer terminals connected via a communication network for controlling apparatus and wherein each of the computer terminals is operable in a job mode in which general users who have an authority to operate the computer terminals are allowed to perform the manipulation of the computer terminals and in a supervising/adjusting mode in which the general users are not authorized to manipulate the computer terminals, but a specified user is authorized to manipulate the computer terminals, the method comprising: enabling one terminal of the computer terminals to be manipulated by the specified user who has completed a login thereto with a certification, automatically logging off the specified user who has logged in, of the one terminal when a predetermined time period expires in the state that the one terminal is not manipulated, whereby the manipulation of the one terminal by the general users in the supervising/adjusting mode is prevented after the predetermined time period expires, and in succession to the automatic logoff, making reference to a user list to select users who have an authority for the last manipulation screen of the one terminal, determining default users who have an authority for re-login, as a result of the selection, and displaying the determined default users on a re-login receiving screen for selection.

4. A program for enabling a computer to execute the following functions with respect to a terminal which is able to be manipulated by a specified user who has completed a login with a certification, when a predetermined time period expires in the state that the terminal is not manipulated; (a) automatically logging off the specified user having logged in, of the terminal, whereby the manipulation of the terminal by general users in a supervising/adjusting mode is prevented after the predetermined time period expires, (b) in succession to the automatic logoff, making reference to a user registration list to select users who have an authority for the manipulation on a screen manipulated lastly, (c) determining users who have an authority to re-log to the terminal, from the selected users; and (d) displaying the determined users on a re-login receiving screen for selection.